‘Tera-Tera Hatti’ expands reach

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, March 24

After having received a great response from donors across the country, ‘Tera-Tera Hatti’, a charity shop which was first opened in the city three months ago, that provides clothes, utensils among other household items to the poor at Rs 13 per piece, has expanded its reach and has opened a second shop at Maqsudan here, while three other shops in Hyderabad, Delhi and Mansa.

The ‘Tera-Tera Hatti’ was initially started by a group of 13 friends. However, now it has over 150 people associated with it across the country. They are also planning to start a community kitchen (langar) in which a full meal, including chapati, rice and sabzi, would be available for people for Rs 13.

Tarvinder Singh, one of the working members of the hatti said: “We the members of the ‘Tera-Tera Hatti’ have bought a shop in Jalandhar from where we will soon start serving langar to the needy for Rs 13.”

A rate of Rs 13 had been fixed in view of a story from first Sikh Master Guru Nanak Dev, who used to help the poor. Following his footprints, we are just making an effort to bring a change in society, he said.

He said: “Through social media, we have received a great response from people across the nation. After seeing our news and videos on facebook and other sites, many people from Hyderabad and Delhi contacted us and showed interest to start the charity shop in their town”.

“Our team workers went to Hyderabad, Delhi and Mansa to inaugurate the shops in February, while the shop is being managed by local residents there,” he said.

Another member Jaswinder Singh said: “People from nearby villages too come to donate utensils, clothes and other household items. We are also working on other plans to serve the community and help as many needy people we can.”

The money being raised from the cause was also being used for medical treatment of the poor, schooling of the needy children and buying grocery to distribute the same among domestic workers or elderly women, he said.